U20 Match Report - Bray Wanderers 1 Derry City 2

 

For the second time in eight days, Bray went down to Derry in the EA SPORTS MU20 LOI Group A. 

Having lost 5-3 away last week, Wanderers somehow lost 2-1 against City on Saturday at Ballycorus. 

That was despite a fine display by the Seasiders who were desperately unlucky not to take something from the second encounter. 

The Green and White’s flew out of the traps, with away custodian Dara McAuley thwarting Alan Seruga after just two minutes after the winger jinked into the box. 

Then in the 14th minute, full back Joshu Kerr saw his 25-yard drive crash off the bar and open. 

Having been on the back foot, the visitors took a 21st minute lead against the run of play. 

After scoring four times last week, striker Sean Patton intercepted a pass in the home half and raced clear to make it 1-0. 

The home team hit back 90 seconds later. But from Seruga’s free kick, Rhys Knight’s clever back flick was tipped over the bar by McAuley. 

But Derry doubled their lead in the 28th minute. Patton again found the net by finishing off Liam Carlin’s approach play. 

However, Bray were rewarded for their attacking style in the 43rd minute. 

Knight played a slide rule pass wide for Kerr who hung up a cross back from the right endline. Stefan Ugbesia then rose to power in a fantastic header from six yards. 

U16 Irish cap Billy O’Neill was introduced at the interval for his debut at U20 level. 

Yet it took a cracking Jack Ellis save to deny Patton his hat-trick in the 53rd minute. 

Four minutes later at the other end, Leon Ajala blasted high and over from 20-yards. 

Ellis again got a vital touch on 67 to divert Patton’s low poked attempt out for a corner. 

The end to end action continued in the 70th minute as Knight combined with Seruga only for McAuley to make a diving save. 

The crossbar stopped Patton claiming the match ball when his header rattled the woodwork on 78. 

In the 80th minute, home sub Sam Collins couldn’t force the ball over the line close in at the near post after getting on the end of Seruga’s free. 

Then three minutes into stoppage time, Ugbesia knocked down Seruga’s free kick. But the unmarked Collins fired over with the goal at his mercy. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jack Ellis; Joshua Kerr, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Caleb O'Neill, Destiny Avenbuan; Alain Kizenga, Leon Ajala; Stefan Ugbesia, Rhys Knight, Alan Seruga; Oluwatofunmi Afolabi. 

 

Subs: Billy O'Neill, Samuel Collins, Scott Browne, Tomás Ainsworth, Luke Smith, Alex Forde 

 

Derry City: Dara McAuley; Cead McGrath, Adam Mc Guinness, Caoimhan Crossan; Conor Barr, Callum McCay, Tiernan McGinty, Liam Carlin; Jamie Harris, Callum Doherty; Sean Patton. 

 

Subs: Reece Monaghan, Michael Rafferty, Aaron Heaney, Brendan Roe, Adam Bonner, Oran White. 

 

Referee: Aaron Pisarnik. 

 

* Elsewhere in the section, Dundalk defeated Finn Harps 3-0 at the Letterkenny Community Centre. 

 

* Bray face a two week break before hosting Drogheda United in two weeks’ time. Then finishing the group stage away to Shelbourne.